Besides bringing you closer to nature, another great reason to camp is to get front-row access to some of your favorite outdoor pursuits -- like singing folk songs by the campfire, geocaching, prospecting for gold and whispering ghost stories by flashlight. For your added camping enjoyment, we offer two secondary lists of items that might be fun or helpful (but not strictly essential) to pack on your next camping trip:

Now, let's review to see how much essential camping knowledge you've retained. Surprise a bear on the trail? Check -- back away slowly and make a lot of noise. Creek's rising fast? Check -- climb to higher ground. Snakes on a Stick? Check -- they're not reptiles; they're just refrigerator biscuits baked over an open fire! Do you really need to pack a portable toilet? Well, it's probably not strictly necessary, but plenty of campers prefer it to squatting in the woods.

You know what else campers prefer? More knowledge about camping! Find it on the next page.